MaK is a physics playground - A sandbox world with engaging game modes built on top of it. We wanted to make something that gives you a sense of discovery and wonder - where creativity is king - a place to explore and experiment - to compete and cooperate - and to do it all with your friends. More than anything, we wanted to make something intensely fun. The major features that define the game experience, so far, stem from these concepts.

At its heart, MaK is a physics sandbox with tethers, rockets, engines, balloons, explosives,
teleportation, relative gravity and potentially unlimited room for
creativity.

MaK features relative gravity. There's no global up or down direction, and any surface can be a source of gravity. Simply traversing the game world is a unique experience. This means that we build our levels in really interesting and unusual ways. Objects orbit and react to gravity wells. Characters run, swim, and build structures on different surfaces. It's a cool and mind-bending sight to behold, and a great place to play in.

Experimenting with the possibilities in this kind of world makes for delightful surprises at every turn. We're constantly discovering new aspects and uses of the gravity system during our sessions with the game.

Building is at the creative heart of the game. It's simple to do, but deeply designed and as complex as you want to make it. The world of MaK is home to a variety of building blocks, representing the unique technology of its inhabitants. Each of these cubes has its own physical properties. Some are innate to each block, while others have to be activated. You can use these cubes to build anything from simple weapons and buildings to complex traps, circuits, and modes of transportation.

The list of blocks is growing and we plan to introduce some of the more exotic types as updates during this Kickstarter campaign. And, yes, we're open to suggestions, too :)

Besides snapping blocks together, you get a gun that shoots grappling tethers. They work like stretchy bungee cords for anchoring, pulling and attaching things at a distance. They're conductive and you can use them to transmit signals and build circuits. They serve as a great weapon, too. The signal sent down the tether is a jolt of electricity, and if it's used on another player or enemy, it works like a taser. Tethers are a deceptively simple tool with many uses. They can even work as trip wires that set off traps.

The tether system is currently fully functional, and we have plans to further expand it into something even more versatile and awesome.

Moving through the twisted environments of MaK requires massive leaps from planet to planet, clever planning, and impressive feats of parkour. Our goal is to make movement a joyous and exuberant experience. When movement is fluid in a game, it makes you feel like a boss, effortlessly pulling off acrobatic maneuvers and stunts. We are working hard to develop a high-end, procedural animation system and simple, intuitive controls to make jumping, swinging, swimming, and soaring between gravity fields fluid and exhilarating. This will ensure that the action is constant, fast, and spectacular.

We decided to build our prototype as a multiplayer game so that we could have character interaction early on, and so we could rapidly design and test gameplay. Since then, we've been building multiplayer modes around our core set of mechanics. We started with traditional game modes like Deathmatch and a UT style Bombing Run (using our explosive cube, which makes the runner both vulnerable to attack and dangerous in close quarters), and we are working our way towards exciting new concepts that are entirely unique to the MaK universe.

The game mode system we've built, enables us to rapidly prototype entirely new game modes within our existing set of mechanics, giving us the freedom to craft diverse and enjoyable experiences for every taste.

We're big fans of co-op games, and we're aiming to develop rich and meaningful ways for players to interact with each other, to encourage players to work together, and devise strategies as a group. These interactions can be as simple as joining forces to build large contraptions, as complicated as solving tandem teleportation traversal puzzles, or working as a team against AI enemies by building defensive structures and banding together to protect vital objects or individuals.

The setting and gravity twisting mechanics allow us to experiment with a really unique visual style. Our goal is to give the game an immense and sweeping scope. From the start, we wanted to create something fantastical, colorful, and vivid, contrasted by realistic lighting, surfaces, and camera effects.

The world of MaK is not what it seems at first glance, and its deepest secrets hit surprisingly close to home. Without giving away too much of the plot, the goal of the art-direction is to create a new reality adjacent to our own. We want to create a living world unlike anything that has been seen before.

Mak is the type of project we really believe can be made best with fan support. We want to have an ongoing dialogue with the people who care about the game most. The reception we have received from the gaming community since we first appeared on Steam Greenlight has been wonderful and overwhelming. Your feedback will help focus our development efforts on what’s important. We want to release a Beta that really helps improve the final game, rather than just stress testing our servers. And we want to share the game development experience with you, through update videos and development blog posts.

We set out to make an amazing and ambitious game that really pushes the boundaries of indie development. And we've come this far working with anywhere from one to five people at different times, between contract jobs and other obligations. We have a great prototype and systems built for rapid iteration and growth. To complete the game, we need to take this job full-time. Your support will help us to fill the game with the great content and gameplay features. Your contribution will put the power in our hands to make something really out of this world.

The game will feature:

Networked & local multiplayer

Single Player Sandbox Levels with creative goals and enemies

Character customization

In-game match replay & recording

In-game YouTube™ integration

Multiple competitive and cooperative game modes

Achievements / In-game rewards

Sweet graphics, leveraging the newest rendering techniques

Tools We want to bring MaK to as many platforms as possible, so that no matter what you own, you can look forward to the experience we are working hard to craft. As a start-up, we don't have some of the industry standard tools necessary to release a game of this scope in the way it deserves. Software licenses and development kits are both expensive and absolutely necessary, along with a good sampling of hardware to test the game.

Growing Game development can be very work intensive. A
project like this will require that we pull in additional
talent from time to time. As a start-up studio we are just bursting with youthful energy
and we can't wait to grow!

We have budgeted out everything that we will need to make a killer multiplayer game and a free-form single-player experience. We have a vision of many features and game modes to expand the scope of MaK to match your support and enthusiasm for the project. With every bit beyond our base goal, we will be able to make leaps in production values bringing you a bigger and better game! If we do surpass our baseline goal we will announce exciting Stretch Goals and additional contributor benefits.

Any additional funds will be used to add more features and content based on the feedback that we receive from you throughout the development process.

We're a handful of friends, with experience in different areas of game development and art. You can see our individual profiles on our site by clicking here.

We started out as a small group that would get together to discuss game design and personal projects. After prototyping a few games together for fun, we hit on some interesting ideas, and we began to consider the possibility of working on something more ambitious. In our spare time we started putting together the basic concepts that have since evolved into MaK.

It wasn't long before we noticed that we were onto something. Inspired by other independent developers, we decided to tabulate our savings, along with the good will of our loved ones, and we took the plunge. Life has been pretty exciting ever since.

Lend a hand and spread the word! There's a new universe waiting to be explored :)

Risks and challenges

We're devoloping a very full featured game, and aiming for a high-end entertainment experience. This means we'll be generating tons of content, developing robust gameplay systems and simulations, and resolving mind-bending technical challenges on a tight schedule. That said, we've already laid a good technical basis for what's ahead, and we have the expertise and experience to take the game through production and into your hands. That's why we're showing gameplay as opposed to a concept video. By contributing, you add to the resources we have and extend our reach. We really appreciate it!

FAQ

We plan to bring MaK to as many platforms as possible. It is likely that we will have a Mac & Linux version, however, we can not officially commit to any platform, other than PC, as of now because we're still evaluating feature compatibility with the next update to our game engine.

If we meet our funding goal we'll be shooting for September 2013 to release a feature complete Beta with multiple game modes, single player sandbox levels, and networked / local multiplayer. The plan is to include really cool in-game recording tools with the Beta so it's easy to share all of the creative mayhem with the world.

Rewards

You selected

$5 reward

6 backers

Thank you for your pledge! At the $5 level, you will receive a high-definition wallpaper pack (featuring concept art and high-quality game renders). You'll get a special KICKSTARTER BACKER BADGE on our forums.
And your name will be immortalized in a special section (and scrolling marquee) on our site.

Estimated delivery:Dec 2013

You selected

$15 reward

387 backers

All rewards in the previous tier, as well as a DIGITAL COPY OF THE GAME DRM-free on PC or on a platform of your choice (if available), at the time it ships. You'll also receive a sweet Kickstarter exclusive in-game character part (BOOTS) to customize your character. You'll also get a PDF Post Mortem looking back at the development process, shortly after the game is done.

Estimated delivery:Dec 2013

You selected

$25 reward

243 backers

BETA BUNDLE! All rewards in previous tiers, plus:
You'll get ACCESS TO THE CLOSED BETA & the Beta forums before the game ships (before the estimated delivery for this tier)!
You'll receive a PDF copy of the MaK ART BOOK featuring concept art and 3D models, shortly after the game is done.
You'll also get another awesome, Kickstarter exclusive in-game character part (BELT) to customize your character.

Estimated delivery:Dec 2013

You selected

$35 reward

192 backers

CO-OP BUNDLE! All rewards in the BETA BUNDLE, plus:
You'll get a SECOND DIGITAL COPY OF THE GAME (and Beta Key) to give away to a friend. Your collection of exclusive Kickstarter character parts will grow to include an awesome pair of GLOVES. And your name will be immortalized in the Game's Credits to highlight your contribution as our special thanks!

Estimated delivery:Dec 2013

You selected

$55 reward

51 backers

All rewards in the CO-OP BUNDLE, plus: You'll get a digital copy of the MaK SOUNDTRACK. And you'll get a bad-ass HELMET to customize your character in game.

Estimated delivery:Dec 2013

You selected

$75 reward

3 backers

You'll get the CO-OP BUNDLE, DIGITAL SOUNDTRACK, and IN GAME HELMET. And you'll get your choice between a sweet MaK POSTER to enhance your wall OR a cool MaK T-SHIRT to enhance your torso.

Estimated delivery:Dec 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$95 reward

19 backers

You'll get an exclusive collector's BOXED COPY OF THE GAME. In addition you'll get both an awesome SIGNED POSTER, and your very own MaK T-SHIRT! At this tier, you'll get an entire character worth of Kickstarter exclusive parts. You'll be the sharpest dressed dude gibbing noobs in the BETA and beyond. This level includes the $75 tier rewards.

Estimated delivery:Dec 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$150 reward

13 backers

HARD-CORE BUNDLE! You'll get the CO-OP BUNDLE, T-SHIRT, SIGNED POSTER and ALL EXCLUSIVE CHARACTER PARTS. You'll also receive a LARGE-FORMAT, COLLECTOR'S EDITION BOXED COPY, along with a SIGNED ART PRINT insert and a PHYSICAL COPY OF THE MaK SOUNDTRACK.
And we'll throw in a Kickstarter exclusive in-game Tether Gun, making you, quite literally, the man with the GOLDEN GUN.

Estimated delivery:Dec 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$250 reward

5 backers

All rewards from the HARD-CORE BUNDLE, plus:
Your name will be FEATURED IN THE GAME.
You'll receive a SIGNED MaK ART BOOK which doubles as a printed look Behind the Scenes and Post Mortem of the production, shortly after the game ships. As a nice bonus, you'll get 5 DIGITAL COPIES OF THE GAME (and Beta Keys) to share with your friends.

Estimated delivery:Dec 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$1,000 reward

0 backers

SUPERMASSIVE BUNDLE! For lending such a significant hand in making this sweet game a reality you'll be credited as a PRODUCER in the game's credits, and get your own MaK DEVELOPMENT TEAM T-SHIRT. You'll receive a bad-ass, Exclusive 6" ENGRAVED AND SIGNED STATUE of the main character and our Eternal Gratitude. And, you'll get 10 DIGITAL COPIES OF THE GAME (and Beta Keys) to share with your friends.

Estimated delivery:Dec 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

$2,500 reward

1 backer
Limited (9 left of 10)

Funding at this level makes you a PERMANENT VERGE VIP. As such, you will be able to VISIT OUR STUDIO and we'll take you out to lunch. You'll get to play the game early and discuss the fine points of gaming, game design, art, shiny things, and programming. And you'll have free access to ALL FUTURE CONTENT released by Verge Game Studio. You will also be invited to the MaK LAUNCH PARTY! You'll receive the ENGRAVED CUBEMAN STATUE, DEVELOPMENT TEAM T-SHIRT, and PRODUCER CREDIT and everything else in the SUPER MASSIVE BUNDLE. And, instead of 10, you'll get 15 DIGITAL COPIES OF THE GAME (and Beta Keys) to share with your friends. And we'll create a special video to thank you personally.

Travel & accommodation expenses are not included.

Estimated delivery:Dec 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

Funding period

Oct 19, 2012 - Nov 19, 2012
(31 days)

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